New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-20
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
A LOVELY GIRL.

A Ois!!s LIFE EIGHTY 1 tAnS AoE EowSr Win
f" tao Latter. OF h LIE. Coo sy. DID, XIII 23g
Al lii 1 ':nrti"n ~ 80 -
Chfi!rs -cil1ncf = Soh''
rin curcu.y attractive exterior OF TINS booX'
with tx canvas cover stamped in imitation OF an
old sampler Is mi'ei.cG by its quaint and delight
ful ,o..teats Eliza Southgatc was the lovely
dau liter Of frIaily known in the best society of
Ma. and Massachusetts, and connected with
dis,ingu she'd people in New-York, and many
honored names are constantly recurring in her
letters. The life, Therefore, of which glimpScs
are offered in this domestic correspondence is that
of the best classes the old fashions which it de-
scrbcs are those of what ght he called the New
Fir land aristOcracy, the manners reflected in 1t
belong to that antique school of gcntility for
whose punctilic. gravity and serious grace the
tOuch-and-aO careleSSncsS Of modern intercourse
offers but a poor substitute The letters extend
from the authors childish days at school to the
close Of her short life in 500, at the age OF
twenty five. She had remarkable facility IN
1etter-writing even for a time when all young
ladies' and great many gentlemen, composed
long cpistlcs their friends frcighted with news
gossip and reflections; and although the spccl-
mems of her talent in the first third Of the volume
arc more interesting as the signs OF developing
cbar,ccr than for their intrinsic merit, there are
few e them in which cannot trace some lesson
in the history of manners, or some suggestive IN
dicatiors of the prevailing tone OF society. As
She approached womanhood, Miss Southgate be-
came a strong and vivacious writer whose per
sonal sketches were riquant, whose descriptions
were often vivid and whose narratives would
have done credit to a professional man OF lc''erS'
Mr. Clarence Cook is quite right in saying tha'
her story Of "a night of mSadventurcs III re' uri'"S
from an assembly ball in snow-stoim couid nav
boen coualed only by Fanny Burner Hardy
less excellent il her enthusiastic description Oh
the charms Of the elaborate gardens OF the Derpy
famiIv nj Salem; and her account OF WISH WIN
these friends 20 BallstOn-thc Saratoga oil 'n"O
davis still fresh and entertaining On her mar
,iaoo m Mr. Bovine she removed 10 New-YoTk'
and boy. in the brief period of happiness lett hcf
ha tool, an INGENIOUS delight in the public amusc-
,nor,s Tho fashionable tea gardens, the promenade
on tro p,ttorr. the faScinations Of Broadway
Z" Won cannot imagine anything half 50 pc""'l-
frl@) and the other allurements OF town VIZ"
which shc declared herself cnrapured. Socl'' '"-
caraments naturally crowded upon the young
bride: and Of these also she gives interesting par
ticulafs. ,.o On in
~, s.vlo of the letters derives an III
ooro,ra rable flavor from the comhiiallo" VI YIN
.rco ;,nrplsive expression of buoVan' ""iT
-. ,i,b the formalities and courteses Whlch
- ,o,nncrs exactcd of the polite Iottei-"i''''
20 ,ho ,oar1sO0 Bat the mixture was character
s-.io 90 tho ncopl, among whom Eliza nlhIa'e
1i,.od We see that they enjoyed the world DIV
49,, ,,-,,c taurbt TO be decorous and respectful
ord never 70 forget TO make their duty 10 '"e'I